Fan module

ABSTRACT

A fan module includes a fan body and a cover. The fan body defines a mounting hole. The cover is secured to the fan body and includes a spoke and a hook extending from the spoke. The hook includes a connecting portion and an elastically deformable latching portion. The connecting portion is connected to the spoke. The elastically deformable latching portion extends from the connecting portion. The connecting portion is received in the mounting hole. The elastically deformable latching portion is engaged with the fan body.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a fan module, and particularly to a fan module of a server or a computer.

2. Description of Related Art

Fan modules may be used for cooling electronic devices, such as computers. Many fan modules include a fan body and a cover or grill guards to prevent users from accidentally touching rotating fan blades and getting injured. However, the cover is secured to the fan body by screws, which are laborious and inconvenient to install. Therefore, an improved fan module is desired within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a fan module in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but viewed from a different aspect.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a circled portion III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an assembled, isometric view of the fan module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an assembled, isometric view of the fan module of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fan module of FIG. 5, taken along a line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

FIGS. 1-3 show a fan module in accordance with an embodiment including a fan body 10 and a cover 20.

The fan body 10 includes a cage 11 and a plurality of fan blades 13. The cage 11 includes a top plate 113 and a bottom plate 115 opposite to the top plate 113. The top plate 113 defines a receiving opening 112. The receiving opening 112 extends to the bottom plate 115 for receiving the plurality of fan blades 13. The top plate 113 defines four mounting holes 1131 in four corners of the top plate 113. In one embodiment, the top plate 113 and the bottom plate 115 are rectangular, and each of the four mounting holes 1131 is round.

The cover 20 includes four spokes 21 and a plurality of guards 23 connected to the four spokes 21. Each adjacent two of the four spokes 21 are substantially perpendicular to each other. Each of the four spokes 21 has an equal length. A hook 25 perpendicularly extends from an end of each of the four spokes 21. Each hook 25 includes a connecting portion 251, a latching portion 253, and a resisting portion 255. In one embodiment, a cross section of the connecting portion 251 is triangular. The latching portion 253 includes a latching plane 2531 and a sliding plane 2533 connected to the latching portion 253. The latching plane 2531 is connected to the sliding plane 2533 and located between a corresponding one of the spokes 21 and the sliding plane 2533. The resisting portion 255 is located between the corresponding spoke 21 and the latching plane 2531 and connected to the connecting portion 251. In one embodiment, the sliding planes 2533 are curved, and the resisting portions 255 have an arc-shaped profile, and each of the guards 23 is circular. The hooks 25 can be engaged in the mounting holes 1131.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show the cover 20, in assembly, is moved to align the hooks 25 with the mounting holes 1131. The cover 20 is pressed to the top plate 113 so that the hooks 25 are elastically deformed outwards by inner edges of the mounting holes 1131 so that the hooks 25 may insert into the mounting holes 1131. Once the sliding planes 2533 abut inner surfaces of the mounting holes 1131, the latching portions 253 extend out of the mounting holes 1131, and the hooks 25 rebound to engage with bottom edges of the mounting holes 1131. In this position, each latching plane 2531 abuts a bottom surface of the top plate 113 and is located between the top plate 113 and the bottom plate 115, and each resisting portion 255 abuts the inner surface of the corresponding mounting hole 1131. Thus, the cover 20 is mounted to the top plate 113.

In disassembly, the latching portion 253 is pulled outwards to elastically deform the hooks 25 until the hooks 25 disengage from the mounting holes 1131. Thus, the cover 20 is removed from the corresponding mounting hole 1131.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan module, comprising: a fan body defining a mounting hole; and a cover secured to the fan body and comprising a spoke and a hook extending from the spoke; the hook comprising a connecting portion and an elastically deformable latching portion, the connecting portion being connected to the spoke, and the elastically deformable latching portion being extended from the connecting portion; wherein the connecting portion is received in the mounting hole, and the elastically deformable latching portion is engaged with the fan body.
 2. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the hook further comprises a resisting portion, the resisting portion is connected to both the connecting portion and the elastically deformable latching portion, and the resisting portion abuts an inner surface of the mounting hole.
 3. The fan module of claim 2, wherein the resisting portion is located between the spoke and the elastically deformable latching portion.
 4. The fan module of claim 2, wherein the resisting portion defines an arc-shaped surface.
 5. The fan module of claim 2, wherein the elastically deformable latching portion comprises a sliding plane and a latching plane, the sliding plane abuts the inner surface of the mounting hole when the elastically deformable latching portion is slid in the mounting hole, and the sliding plane is curved.
 6. The fan module of claim 5, wherein the latching plane is connected to the sliding plane and engaged with the fan body.
 7. The fan module of claim 5, wherein the latching plane is substantially parallel to the spoke and located between the spoke and the sliding plane.
 8. The fan module of claim 5, wherein the resisting portion is located between the spoke and the latching plane.
 9. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the hook is substantially perpendicular to the spoke.
 10. The fan module of claim 1, wherein a cross section of the connecting portion is triangular.
 11. A fan module, comprising: a fan body comprising a cage and a plurality of fan blades; the cage comprising a top plate and a bottom plate opposite to the top plate, the top plate defining an opening for the plurality of fan blades passing through, and the top plate further defining a mounting hole; and a cover secured to the fan body and comprising a spoke and a hook extending from the spoke; the hook comprising a connecting portion, a resisting portion, and an elastically deformable latching portion, the connecting portion being connected to the spoke, and each of the elastically deformable latching portion and the resisting portion being extended from the connecting portion; wherein the connecting portion and the resisting portion are received in the mounting hole, the resisting portion abuts an inner surface of the mounting hole, and the latching portion extends out of the mounting hole and engaged with the top plate.
 12. The fan module of claim 11, wherein the resisting portion is connected to a side of the connecting portion, and the elastically deformable latching portion is located on a bottom end of the connecting portion.
 13. The fan module of claim 11, wherein the resisting portion is located between the spoke and the elastically deformable latching portion.
 14. The fan module of claim 11, wherein the resisting portion defines an arc-shaped surface.
 15. The fan module of claim 11, wherein the elastically deformable latching portion comprises a sliding plane and a latching plane, the sliding plane abuts the inner surface of the mounting hole when the elastically deformable latching portion is slid in the mounting hole, and the sliding plane is curved.
 16. The fan module of claim 15, wherein the latching plane is connected to the sliding plane and engaged with the fan body.
 17. The fan module of claim 15, wherein the latching plane is substantially parallel to the spoke and located between the spoke and the sliding plane.
 18. The fan module of claim 15, wherein the resisting portion is located between the spoke and the latching plane.
 19. The fan module of claim 11, wherein the hook is substantially perpendicular to the spoke.
 20. The fan module of claim 11, wherein a cross section of the connecting portion is triangular. 